Trolley Watch figure climbs above 500

The number of patients waiting on trolleys at hospitals nationwide today has slipped above 500.

There are 501 people awaiting beds in the country's hospitals, 355 in emergency departments and 146 in overflow wards.

University Hospital Limerick is the worst affected with 71 people awaiting beds.

That is followed by 35 at South Tipperary General Hospital and 34 at University Hospital Waterford.